[WATCH] 'Malta never negotiated spring hunting derogation with EU' - Balzan

Balzan says hunting derogation was not part of EU negotiations

Malta never negotiated a spring hunting derogation as part of its EU accession talks, MediaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan said.

Addressing the press in front of a Yes campaign billboard in Pembroke claiming that he had negotiatied the derogation with the EU, Balzan said that Malta had agreed to apply the EU Birds Directive and to phase out trapping by 2008.

"That billboard's claim is a lie," Balzan, a Spring Hunting Out (SHout) spokesman said. "Malta has a right to derogate, as every EU member state does, but we had never negotiated it.

"In 2003, Malta applied the spring hunting derogation and was instantly hit with charges by the European Court of Justice.

"In 2009, the European Commission found Malta guilty of not applying the derogation properly. Since then, the hunters have miraculously started declaring lower catches."

Balzan recounted how, in 2003, he was employed as a technical expert within the Environment Ministry on an annual salary of LM6,000.

"I was also a voluntary member of the campaign in favour of Malta's EU accession and I had believed back then that Malta would someday abolish spring hunting as all other EU countries have," Balzan said. "I think we have matured as a population now, and many people agree that spring hunting should end."

He said that he won't take legal action against the Yes campaign for their "libellous" billboard, despite having been legally advised to do so.

"I was expecting the Yes campaign to launch personal attacks, but it's all part of the game," Balzan said. "The No campaign is positive and optimistic, in favour of birds breeding in the springtime and people enjoying the countryside."